Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
